Steve Cooper: Leicester City appoint former Nottingham Forest boss as new manager | Football news

Leicester City have appointed former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper as their new manager on a three-year deal.

Cooper replaces Enzo Maresca, who left to join Chelsea earlier this summer, at the King Power Stadium after the club carried out a thorough due diligence process and spoke to a number of candidates, including Graham Potter.

Cooper has been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest – Leicester’s East Midlands rivals – last December when the club languished in 17th place in the Premier League after a run of just one win in 13 games.

Before that, the 44-year-old guided Forest back to the top flight for the first time in 23 years and then kept them there.

Speaking to Leicester’s official website, Cooper said: “I am very excited and proud to be appointed as Leicester City’s first team manager.

“This is a fantastic club with a rich history and passionate supporters. I am delighted to be working with such a talented squad and look forward to the challenge of delivering on our shared Premier League ambitions.”

The Leicester job will not be without its challenges for Cooper, with the Foxes facing a possible points deduction and potentially having to sell players to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha added: “We are delighted to welcome Steve to Leicester City. His vision for the team, including the ability to develop players and implement a dynamic style of play, is very much in line with our aspirations for the club.

“As a leader, he has the ability to build on the strong relationship that has been created between our fans and our team, strengthening a bond that will be vital to the club’s return to the Premier League.”

Cooper brings a wealth of experience to Leicester, having also been in charge of the England U16 and U17 international sides – winning the World Cup with the latter in 2017 – before managing Championship side Swansea City from 2019-21.

Carragher: Cooper needs ‘serious support’

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:

“I’m delighted for Steve. It’s not easy when you lose your job in the Premier League to get another job in the Premier League. These are coveted jobs and managers from all over Europe and the world are looking to come here, so he will be pleased to receive this opportunity.

“It’s a similar area in terms of where Nottingham Forest are, so he knows the area well. He built a great relationship with the Forest supporters and they were a bit disappointed when he left.

“Hopefully for him he can build that rapport with the Leicester fans because he might have a few problems at the start of the season.

“For Leicester to stay up they all have to be together and Cooper will need serious support from the board and also from the supporters.”

Heskey: Cooper’s aim must be to stay in the Premier League

Speaking ahead of Cooper’s appointment, the Leicester legend Emile Heskey says the manager’s aim for the new season is simply to stay in the Premier League amid a limited ability to sign new players.

Speaking at his launch Husqvarna Victory Dance campaignHeskey insisted that the best way to achieve this would be to continue the style of football implemented by Maresca.

Heskey said Sky Sports: “Leicester have gone down the path of having someone in Maresca who has revolutionized the way we think as a club in terms of the way we play.

“It would be crazy to change everything around. Even when you look at the U21s, they started to implement a lot of the fundamentals that Maresca had.

“You’d like to think the next manager will take that and go on and play a lot of the younger guys because the reality is I’m not sure how much we can spend to really get the team up to par with what it takes to stay in the league.

“I went through the championship quite easily, with a bit. If we can keep Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall it would be remarkable and incredible because he really is the main player.

“The aim has to be to stay in the Premier League. We have to reset and work again. Staying in the league is essential and then you build from there, especially if you’re not able to spend the money you have to spend on bring the team to a tie.

“The reality is that the team is quite similar to the team that went down. Yes, in the forward line, Jamie Vardy has re-signed, but who else do we have? This is a key position that needs to be rectified.

“I would say defensively, the centre-back position would be important and then possibly a midfielder.”

Leicester fixtures: Foxes kick off against Spurs on MNF

Leicester will start their 2024/25 Premier League season with a Monday night football home game against Tottenham, live Sky Sports on August 19.

The newly promoted Foxes then travel to Craven Cottage to face off Fulham in the second game before returning to the King Power Stadium to face off Villa Aston on August 31.

Their first East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest where Cooper could face his former club at home on 26 October, with the return at the City Ground on 10 May. Their former manager Maresca is set to return to the King Power Stadium with Chelsea on November 23.

They face a tough schedule over Christmas and New Year, including a trip to Anfield Liverpool on Boxing Day and a home game against the city of Manchester on December 29.

After facing the rivals forest in their final game on 10 May, they end the campaign with a home game against another promoted club Town of Ipswich on May 18 and an away game vs Bournemouth on May 25.